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Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is situated in southeast Africa. In 1963 Malawi gained independence, changed its name from Nyasaland and adopted a single-party state. Malawi now has a democratic, multi-cultural government with a small military force to protect the country (including an army, a navy and an air force). In 2012, Joyce Banda became the country’s first female president. Malawi is among the world’s least developed countries. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, on which the large rural population depends. Malawian agriculture is mainly subsistence-based, depending on primary products, and with little processing to finished products. The country’s wealth is largely in the hands of a small elite. Agriculture accounts for about 37 per cent of GDP and 85 per cent of all exports. To meet its development targets, Malawi depends significantly on outside aid. With the GDP real growth rate estimated to have been 6.5 per cent in 2010 and 4.6 per cent in 2011, the government faces challenges in building and expanding the economy, improving education and health care.